Westcoast Veterinary Hospital / Naples Safari Animal Hospital & Pet Resort, Inc.
Thunderstorm Anxiety Disorder Information Sheet
Thunderstorm anxiety is a common behavioral disorder of dogs and can become a serious problem, especially during
the summer in Southwest Florida. There are some things that we can do to help relieve the fear during storms and
sometimes eliminate the anxiety all together.
We use multiple approaches to achieve the best results addressing the phobia associated with thunderstorms:
1. Desensitization - involves getting your pet used to thunderstorm associated noise.
2. Comfort- provide a “safe place” during thunderstorms
3. Distraction - provide positive rewards in association with thunderstorms.
4. Elimination of anxiety reinforcing behaviors.
5. Pharmacology - anti anxiety medications daily or when needed.
The best time to begin addressing the problem is before thunderstorm season arrives.
Desensitization should begin before thunderstorm season. There are many CDs available at local music stores and on
line under the New Age section that incorporate thunderstorm noises either with or without soothing music. Begin by
playing the music at low volume. Gradually increase the levels as your pet gets used to the sound. Associate a
pleasant activity like play, feeding, brushing, or special treats during these times. It is also useful to play the music in
the evening or at night since many storms and fears occur when it is dark.
Comfort/Distraction Many pets will seek a safe place when thunderstorms occur. If your pet has not chosen a spot,
select a bathroom or closet with as few windows as possible and have it set up so your pet can get used to it now.
Place a crate or provide bedding area for your pet. We recommend a small TV or radio be placed in the area for
additional noise distraction during storms. Pets are sensitive to barometric changes so you will not be able block out
all thunderstorm associated stimuli, but you can minimize triggers. Encourage your pet to use the area by providing a
special treat or activity .There are many toys available to hide treats in and provide further distraction for your pet. Our
favorites are Kong Toys. These can be filled with a commercial Kong Stuffing, biscuits, dog friendly ice cream, ice
cubes, peanut butter or a combination of the above. Placing the “stuffed “ toys in the freezer may provide an additional
challenge and distraction. DAP diffusers - a kind of “plug in “ that emits Dog Appeasing Pheromone may help. Some
studies indicate that lavender aromatherapy may be soothing. Collars impregnated with Dap are also available and
last for up to 4 weeks.
Elimination of Anxiety Reinforcing Behaviors - Many times we unknowingly send the message to our pets that the
anxiety behavior is appropriate. During an anxiety episode it is natural to attempt to comfort the animal . To prevent
reinforcing the anxiety, it is important to ignore the behavior when it occurs. This may be hard to do but provides an
important cue that the event is not to be feared. Go about your business as usual and treat your pet as if it were not
having a problem. Speak to your dog in an upbeat, playful voice. Engage him or her in play or lead your pet to the
safe place and provide a treat but try not to “make a big deal “ of the event. Also realize that dogs pick up on human
cues easily, so if they see you tense they are likely to respond in kind.
Pharmacology - In many parts of the country and in mild cases, a medication like alprazolam used on an as needed
basis may be enough to manage thunderstorm phobic behaviors. The problem with this approach is that if the pet is
already anxious, it is much more difficult to achieve comfort with medication after the fact. Because of cues like
pressure, increased hearing abilities , etc., dogs often sense an approaching storm before their owners. In our area,
where storms can be an everyday event, seasonal daily medication is often a good choice. Fluoxetine (Reconcile) can
be given once a day , and if needed , alprazolam can be given in addition if the pet becomes extremely agitated. The
daily medication should ideally be started approximately 2 weeks before storm season starts. If longterm therapy is
recommended, a baseline blood panel may be required.
With some effort on the part of the family - and a little help from medicine, summer in Florida may be a less anxious
time for both you and your pet.
We are now offering desensitization therapy protocols along with canine massage at our Naples Safari location. Please
call and ask for details.